| Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) |
| Michel |
| Nationality |
German |
| Type |
Hilfskreuzer (Raider) |
| Ship Code |
28 |
| Raider Code |
H |
| Builder |
Deutsche Werft AG, converted by Danziger Werft (former propietary was Gdynia - American Shipping Line; the ship was seized at Danzig, unfinished). |
| Launched |
1939 |
| Previous Owner |
Poland |
| Previous Name |
Bielsko |
| General Cruise Details (1. Cruise) |
| Commander (1. cruise) |
Kapitän zur See ( Captain ) Helmut von Ruckteschell (Knights Cross with Oak Leaves) |
| Sail date (1. cruise) |
13 March 1942 |
| End cruise (1. cruise) |
2 March 1943 |
| Fate (1. cruise) |
Refuged in Kobe (Japan) |
| Performance (1. Cruise) |
| Prizes |
15 |
| Tonnage Sunk |
99.386 |
| Days at Sea |
354 |
| Tons/Day (average) |
280,75 |
| General Cruise Details (2. Cruise) |
| Commander (2. cruise) |
Kapitän sur See Günther Gumprich (Ritterkreuz) |
| Sail date (2. cruise) |
21 May 1943 |
| End cruise (2. cruise) |
18 October 1943 |
| Fate (2. cruise) |
Sunk by USS Tarpoon, east of Kobe |
| Performance (2. Cruise) |
| Preys |
3 |
| Tonnage Sunk |
27.632 |
| Days at Sea |
150 |
| Tons/Day (average) |
184,21 |
| Displacement |
| Tonnage |
4.740 |
| Dimensions |
| Lenght |
133 meters |
| Beam |
16,8 meters |
| Weapons |
| Main Battery |
6 x 155 |
| Secondary Battery |
1 x 75 mm, 4 x 37 mm |
| Torpedo Tubes |
6 |
| Mines |
None |
| Aircraft |
| Fixed Wing |
2 |
| Small boats |
| Schnellboot |
1 |
| Propulsion |
| Horsepower |
6.650 |
| Endurance |
34.000 |
| Speed |
16 knots |
| Fuel Type |
Oil |
| Complement |
| Wartime |
400 |
| Michel - War Records from 13-03-1942 to 02-03-1943, and from 21-05-1943 to 18-10-1943 |
| Number |
Prize Name |
Type |
Flag |
Date |
Tonnage |
Fate |
| 1 |
Patella |
Tanker |
United Kingdom |
19-04-1942 |
7.470 |
Sunk |
| 2 |
Connecticut |
Tanker |
USA |
22-04-1942 |
8.685 |
Sunk |
| 3 |
Kattegat |
Freighter |
Norway |
20-05-1942 |
4.245 |
Sunk |
| 4 |
George Clymer |
Freighter |
USA |
07-06-1942 |
7.175 |
Sunk |
| 5 |
Lylepark |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
11-06-1942 |
5.185 |
Sunk |
| 6 |
Gloucester Castle |
Passenger |
United Kingdom |
15-07-1942 |
8.005 |
Sunk |
| 7 |
William F. Humphrey |
Tanker |
USA |
16-07-1942 |
7.895 |
Sunk |
| 8 |
Aramis |
Tanker |
Norway |
17-07-1942 |
7.985 |
Sunk |
| 9 |
Arabistan |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
14-08-1942 |
5.875 |
Sunk |
| 10 |
American Leader |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
10-09-1942 |
7.240 |
Sunk |
| 11 |
Empire Down |
Freighter |
USA |
11-09-1942 |
6.780 |
Sunk |
| 12 |
Reynolds |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
02-09-1942 |
5.115 |
Sunk |
| 13 |
Sawokla |
Freighter |
USA |
29-12-1942 |
5.880 |
Sunk |
| 14 |
Eugenie Livanos |
Freighter |
Greece |
08-12-1942 |
4.845 |
Sunk |
| 15 |
Empire March |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
02-01-1943 |
7.040 |
Sunk |
| Subtotal Michel (von Ruckteschell) Prizes |
99.420 |
|
| 1 |
Hoegh Silberdawn |
Freighter |
Norway |
15-06-1943 |
7.715 |
Sunk |
| 2 |
Ferncastle |
Tanker |
Norway |
17-06-1943 |
9.940 |
Sunk |
| 3 |
Alcide |
Tanker |
Norway |
11-09-1943 |
9.975 |
Sunk |
| Subtotal Michel (Gumprich) Prizes |
27.630 |
|
| Total Michel Prizes |
127.050 |
|
| Notes to: |
| 1 |
Sunk by explosive charges. |
| 2 |
Sunk by E-Boat torpedoes. Prisoners transferred to Charlotte Schliemann. |
| 3 |
Sunk by explosive charges. |
| 4 |
Sunk by E-Boat torpedos. Shipwreackers saved by HMS Alcantara. Michel fails by less than a hour to attack her. |
| 5 |
Sunk by gunfire. 22 prisoners, transferred to Doggerbank (former prized of Atlantis). |
| 6 |
Sunk by gunfire. 93 deads, 61 prisoners (several women). |
| 7 |
– |
| 8 |
Prisoners transferred to Charlotte Schliemann. Meeting with HK Stier. An association is proposed, by rejected by Stier’s captain. |
| 9 |
– |
| 10 |
– |
| 11 |
Prisoners transfered to Tannenfels, a blockade runner. She later reached safely Bourdeaux. Meeting with Uckermark for refuelling. |
| 12 |
– |
| 13 |
– |
| 14 |
– |
| 15 |
Michel get orders to head for Japan. She safely arrives Kobe. |
| – |
| 1 |
Sunk by torpedoes. Shipwreackers heading to Calcuta on their own boats. |
| 2 |
Sunk by gunfire. |
| 3 |
Sunk by Gunfire. Later, Michel was torpedoed by USS Tarpon. 253 deads, 117 shipwreackers. The captain sunk with his ship. |
